During the opening practice session of the Detroit Grand Prix, an unusual on-track incident occurred involving Will Power and Kyle Kirkwood. The incident happened on the narrow Michigan street circuit, where Power rear-ended Kirkwood in a surprising clash that caused notable disruption and damage.
Will Power, pushing hard through traffic on the tight street course, collided with Andretti Autosport’s Kyle Kirkwood in a way that left Power’s front wing trapped underneath Kirkwood’s rear, resembling a forklift lifting a container. IndyCar shared footage of this striking moment on social media platform X, highlighting the growing tension early in the event.
Power appeared visibly frustrated as this contact damaged his front wing, snapping several flaps. Despite this, Kirkwood recovered to top the session with a fastest lap of 1:01.7509, leading Scott McLaughlin, while Power set the third-best time at 1:02.3862.
Will Power’s perspective on the unexpected collision with Kyle Kirkwood
Reflecting on the curious incident after the session, Will Power candidly addressed his role in the clash with Kyle Kirkwood. The seasoned Australian explained that the contact was, to some extent, intentional and part of an unorthodox strategy during his lap.
“Well, I came around and, you know, he was right up in the middle and made contact, so I thought, ‘Well, I may as well get a gap now.’ So I just pushed him past the car in front, just moved him out of the way, and got a really nice gap,” Power said while speaking to the media in a video shared on X by IndyCar.
So, uh, yeah, if I hadn’t touched him already… I said, ‘Oh well, I’m already touching him, so I might as well keep pushing him and get myself a gap.’ Got a good gap and finished the run nicely.”
No penalties were issued by Indianapolis race stewards following this unusual maneuver. With this matter behind him, Power now aims to focus on delivering a clean and competitive performance throughout the rest of the Detroit Grand Prix weekend.
The Detroit street circuit holds significant importance for the Team Penske driver, who claimed victory at the 2022 edition and has a history of strong finishes at this event. Power’s familiarity with this challenging road course adds an element of confidence as he navigates this year’s race weekend.
